Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi Ric Freaks!

I was wondering what other folks did to keep their strings clean in between changes. Also, apart from keeping them clean, what tips can you offer for extending string lifetime?

My new Ric (acquired 1/28/10) is my first fretted bass in over 20 years (strictly fretless prior), and I'm really digging the "fresh string" sound I get from the factory strings (regardless of pickup choice/tone setting). Whereas on my fretless, I like the strings better after they've worn a bit and, as such, didn't really worry so much about changing/cleaning strings (though I do eventually replace them).

How can I make that "fresh string" sound last as long as possible on my Ric? (Sounds like a commercial, yes? ). I appreciate your input.

Peace.

I can't help you here, I like my strings to loss the zing!

I always wash my hands before playing, then put rubbing alcohol on them. It helps a little, but my sweat is corrosive to that new-string-sound, so they still go dead! Part of the reason why for the most part I'm switching to flatwounds...

hieronymous wrote:I always wash my hands before playing, then put rubbing alcohol on them. It helps a little, but my sweat is corrosive to that new-string-sound, so they still go dead! Part of the reason why for the most part I'm switching to flatwounds...

I allways wash my hands too. And I keep the bass in the case when I'm not using it. When I wipe the bass down I try to not get any moisture on the strings at all. That's about all I can think off.

Besides moisture being detrimental to the strings, the oils in one's skin are too, due to the presence of sulfur-containing compounds. This is exacerbated if one eats a lot of onions or garlic because those plants contain high levels of sulfur-containing compounds that are metabolized and exuded through the skin. Nickel-containing strings are more susceptible because nickel has a high reactivity for sulfur compounds.

Years ago I used to take mine off periodically and boil them in a pan of water. Seriously, I found it perked up my Rotos.

To keep the strings clean, and fresh for as long as possible, after playing, I damp a little piece of cotton cloth with naphtha or lighter fluid, wrap it around the string and wipe back and fro from nut to bridge. Repeat the process for each string. John Hall also recommends it.

i too, used to boil my roundwound rotos like lobsters in a pot of boiling water. haven't done that since the '80's when money was tight and toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were at a premium ! my hands are dry so my strings would last a long time on the instrument. i never wiped them down. i prefer my strings to sound like door springs ! boing ! boing !

paul_yan wrote:To keep the strings clean, and fresh for as long as possible, after playing, I damp a little piece of cotton cloth with naphtha or lighter fluid, wrap it around the string and wipe back and fro from nut to bridge. Repeat the process for each string. John Hall also recommends it.

Thanks, Paul, for the tip. I'll try that for sure.

I also remember boiling strings in the '80s. Damn, am I that old??

I use Elixers. They're coated with a thin layer of Gore-Tex. They don't go on quite as bright as your typical brand-new set of regular nickle rounds, but they maintain their brightness for much longer. Because the string is coated, there is no opportunity for skin oils, BBQ sauce, chocolate sauce, cola, or beer to contaminate/corrode the nickel and alter the string's tone. And an added bonus is that they're slick as butter and kind to your fingers.

kiramdear wrote:Years ago I used to take mine off periodically and boil them in a pan of water. Seriously, I found it perked up my Rotos.

You did use the official Rotosound boiling apparatus, right, as I did? Same goes for you, Ronald!

Besides washing my hands first, I always wipe down not only the strings but the whole bass with a diaper cloth..

jps wrote:I can't help you here, I like my strings to loss the zing!

+1. Strings sound so much better after a week of playing...

jps wrote:I can't help you here, I like my strings to loss the zing!

+1

One of the studios where we recorded stocked and sold something called "Professor Farley's Original String Sudzer" for just this purpose. Made my strings sound brand new after a wipe down, and made the engineer smile.

It could very well have contained Naptha, but it didn't have that Zippo smell. Label just says petroleum distillates. It was marketed as a string cleaner, lubricant and fretboard conditioner.

It's been a long time, but according to the nearly empty bottle in my gig bag it was made/distributed by: SSK Enterprises, 429 Anaheim Street, Long Beach, CA 90804.

Good luck!